Whenever I see these bike messengers with their big bike chain wrapped around their waist I always think about Karl and Chanel. I keep waiting for the day I see Chanel models racing down the runway sporting heavy chain belts with leather threaded through – a thicker version of a Chanel bag’s chain. This messenger’s look is just begging to be Karlized.

I know he has Chanelled other sports but has Karl ever interpreted bike messengers? Just imagine all that gear (high-heeled biking shoes as showcased earlier today) with the Double C logo.

By the same token, I would love to see a few smartass messengers turn the table and do their own version of a Chanel bike chain and lock.

I nominate this young lady to lead the charge.

October 2010

November 2010

Ok, I know Terence Koh isn’t actually a messenger but still…the look is begging for the Karl touch.

The other day my friend Alessandro (whom you have seen in several shots from Milan and Florence) emailed to let me know he was in New York for a shopping/inspiration trip. He was looking for shops and brands that specialize in American classic style.

He had been to all the well-known shops like Odin, Melet Mercantile, Bergdorf Goodman, etc. However, he had missed some of the smaller, cool shops that are making New York one of the best menswear destinations in the world right now.

I offered to take him on the unofficial “Sartorialist-tour-of-cool-small-shops-specializing-in-classic-American-style-and-atmosphere” and made a few appointments. This was very spur-of-the-moment and is in no way a comprehensive selection, but with only two hours to show a super-chic visitor a few shops these are the places I made the priority.

I know Alessandro has a weakness for shoes so the first stop was Barker Black. Derrick just keeps evolving his American/English-inspired shoes, furnishing each with a sinister twist.

Next, we went around the block to Freemans Sporting Club. I think this was the shop that really wowed Alessandro. He loved the design of the space. I think he is very impressed at the American ability to take an unremarkable space and rebuild it with character; in this case, to look like an old dry goods shop that seemed to have occupied the space for over 100 years. Keith McNally does the same trick with Pastis, Balthazar, etc.

I was going to take him to Leffot but he had already visited the day before, What he mentioned, though, was how funny it was to see Aldens done through the eyes of Americans. Right now Alden is one of the hottest brands in Italy and Japan but they are always bought with the unique perspective of buyers in each country. As I have mentioned before, Aldens here are way to clunky for my taste but I’ve seen them in Seoul, Milan, Florence and Japan and stores always seem to pick the perfect two or three styles that reflect the local taste.

(The one exception in the US is how J. Crew is buying Aldens right now. They’re offering a very good selection.)

I think it’s time to add a few cities to my “rotation” and will be traveling to Boston and Philadelphia in the coming weeks.

I’m not very familiar with either city and wanted to ask your input on where to go to find great style, architecture, etc. I’m looking for neighborhoods, places, streets…the more specific you are, the better.

If something comes to mind, please email cities@thesartorialist.com. I’m really looking forward to seeing what everyone has to say.

Also – thanks to everyone who responded to my tweet earlier this morning. It’s been a lot of fun checking out the suggestions that have been coming in.